Find Missing Dog One Week After Plane Crash

For the family who lost sadly two of its members last week in the downing of a Beech Bonanza near Camarillo, CA... it would not be out of bounds to call brothers Rene and Edgar Herrera heroes.

You see... not only did the two teens come to the aid of the two survivors of the accident --  Robert Santoro, 43, and his 7-year-old son Dawson -- but one week later, the boys also found the family's missing dog.

The Ventura County Star reports the two boys were showing the accident site to friends Saturday when they discovered the dog, Lindsey, in a ditch.

"We all started running towards the dog," Rene Herrera said. "We all took turns cradling it like a baby and we took it home."

Friends of the family of the victims had been searching for Lindsey all week.

"We were called loonies," said Bob Jansen, who along with his wife Shirley had been trying to find the animal. "They told us we were searching for a dead dog."

The discovery of the dog -- which suffered a ruptured diaphragm and a broken leg -- came as a small bit of relief to the grieving family, which lost Karen Santoro, 43, and 5-year-old son Ian in the accident.

"The family's gone through hell on earth, and this is one tiny bright spot," Jansen said. "We can give the family a 55-pound piece of good news."

Robert Santoro, who was flying the plane, is still in critical condition after nearly losing his leg in the accident. He was thrown clear of the wreckage along with Dawson, who suffered minor injuries.

The FAA preliminary report states Santoro had reported engine trouble shortly before the plane crashed onto a small road.

Lindsey, incidentally, underwent surgery Saturday... and is expected to pull through.

FMI: www.faa.gov